Fallen Angels

Book review by Monica Wyatt, Common Sense Media
Fallen Angels Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 15+

A violent but unvarnished portrayal of the war in Vietnam.

Walter Dean Myers Historical Fiction 1988
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Parents say

age 16+

Based on 8 reviews

Kids say

age 14+

Based on 23 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this book realistically describes what it was like for American soldiers fighting in Vietnam in 1967-68. Expect profanity, poor grammar, and graphic violence; there are depictions of shootings and explosions, including a woman who booby-traps a small child to explode in an American soldier's arms. The story builds until the soldiers and readers are caught in a vortex of war. Richie asks some big questions -- about the reasons for the war, about the treatment of African-Americans, and more. The realism, humor, and intensity attract even reluctant readers and keep them reading -- and thinking about the cost of war.

Community Reviews

slmillen@aol.com
[email protected] Adult
April 9, 2008
not rated for age

Parents Beware

While this book is written at a deceptively easy reading level (about 5th grade) it is NOT for any age teen. There are plenty of good books about the Vietnam War that do not use vulgarity, profanity and graphic violence. The author didn't even serve in Vietnam -- it is entirely fictional. There is pervasive use of the F-word throughout, as well as describing cutting off a baby's head and plenty of other gore. Disturbingly, the main character decides there is no line between good vs. evil.
2 people found this helpful.
Copperman34956
Copperman34956 Adult
February 3, 2016
age 18+

CURSE WORDS AND SUGGESTIVE THEMES

If you would actually take the time to read this book! So much profanity! Many nasty remarks on women. Hate. Use of alcohol and drugs. Please check what it is that your child is reading.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
1 person found this helpful.
See all 8 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Richie, an 18-year-old African-American kid from Harlem, joins the army and is sent to Vietnam in 1967. There, he bonds with the other soldiers in his small squad and watches as some of them die. Richie wonders if he'll live through the year as he participates in the growing violence of the war.

Is It Any Good?

Reading FALLEN ANGELS can be an intense experience, one that even reluctant readers may appreciate. This highly realistic depiction of young soldiers fighting the ground war in Vietnam was one of the first books to illuminate that war for young people. Today's adolescents, who were born after the Vietnam War, may not know much about it -- but that's OK because this book focuses on the experiences of the soldiers, not on the history of the war. Myers has the ability to make readers care about his characters and see them as real human beings. Ultimately, this is a vivid and unvarnished portrayal of the war in Vietnam.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the Vietnam War. Did you know anything about the Vietnam War before you read this book? Why is it important to read about events that happened before you were even born?

  • Richie sees that African-American soldiers are often put in the most dangerous situations. Do you think that is still true today? Why are so many of our soldiers fighting in today's wars from minority backgrounds? Is that fair?

Book Details

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